Percussion-fuse for projectiles.



H. B. STRANGE.

PERCUSSION FUSE FOR PROJEGTILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1910. I I I Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

Jhven Z01:

UNITED STATES HARRY BLAND STRANGE, OF DORE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 MESSBS. THOMAS FIRTH &

SONS LIMITED, OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

PERCUSSION-FUSE FOR PROJEGTILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

Application filed July 7, 1910. Serial No. 570,853.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY Bram) STRANGE, a subject of the Kin of England, residing at Dore, Derby, in 11 land, have invented certain new and usefu Improvements in Percussion-Fuses for Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to percussion fuses of the type in which there is a plate or diaphragm which must be perforated by a punch carried by a sliding hammer which is driven forward on the impact of the project-ile before the flash can be communicated from the detonator to the projectile charge.

According to this invention the needlecarrying pellet so disposed within the fuse body as to be capab e of sliding therein, has mounted upon it, referably rigidly, one or more punches or t e like which serve both to hold the pellet in its normal inoperative position and also to perforate the safety disk and allow the pellet to be operative the arrangement being such that the pellet can only move forward with the punches and is positively prevented from such forward motion until perforation has taken place. The safety disk is so disposed as to effectively close one or more passages through which alone the flash can be communicated from the detonator to the projectile charge, these passages acting as guides for the punches which are so constructed, as for instance b being formed hollow or otherwise, as to a low the flash to as after the punches have perforated the isk. The punches maintain the pellet in its inoperative position b reason of their ends bearing on the face 0 the disk which being preferably formed of substantial thickness insures the pellet being maintained inoperm tire. The nature of the punch or punches is such and the safety disk is formed of such material and thickness that perforation will only take place when the needle carrying pellet advances with such force as would resu t from the projectile striking a suitable objective as for instance either a thick or thin armor plate.

In the accompanying drawi s, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one conflruction of fuse according to this invention showing the needle carrying pellet in its inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the needle carrying pellet and other parts in the positions occupied when the projectile has come into impact with an objective. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan of the detonator carrier. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the upper part of a modified form of fuse also according to this invention, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line e-c of Fig. 5.

With reference first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the hollow fuse body A is preferably formed cylindrical internally and externally and is screwed into :1 ca B which forms a shoulder B approximate y about the center of the leizigth of the fuse, the cap around this shoul er being screw-threaded to adapt it to be screwed into the base plug C of the projectile. The cavity in the base plug is of such dimensions that when the fuse is in position an annular space C is left between the body of the fuse A and the plug C. The bottom of the fuse body A may be integral with it but in the construction shown it is formed as a separate cap A screwing into and closing the lower end of the fuse body A. The fuse body A contains, so as, to be capable of sliding therein, a pellet D which is provided with a needle E of some usual type. Mounted rigidly on one end of the pellet are three punches F, these punches have suitable cutting ends F and are each reduced in diameter as at F to allow of the flash passing through the holes in which lie the punches in the manner to be hereinafter described. The detouator G is mounted in a holder or carrier G conveniently in the form of a cylindrical pl perforated by three holes (1? all parallel to the axis of the plug and preferably equidistant from its center as shown in F 4. The detonator G lies in a central recess in the carrier G this recess communicati through a small passage G with another recess G. From this recess G inclined slots G lead to the holes G. The holes or passages G correspond in dimensions and position with the punches F which can slide freely therein. Over the detonator holder G lies a disk H formed of rolled brass, copper, aluminium or other suitable material and preferablyof substantialthickmess. The diameter of the disk H preferably equal to the diameter of the detonator holder G and thus the disk completely closes in the ends of the guide passages G". The dctoualor holder G and disk H lie within the cap ll being securely held in lace when the latter is screwed to the fuse ody A. In the cup B are formed three holes B which correspond in dimensions and position with the guide passages G in the detonator carrier and practically constitute continuations of those passages. A radial passage B leads from each passa e B to the exterior of the cap B each ra ial passage B conveniently terminating in a cup or recess in which is disposed and suitably secured a powder pellet J. The detonator holder G is conveniently retained in position so that the passages (1: coincide with the passages B by means of a set screw K which passesthrough the cap B and enters a. slot G formed in the periphery of the detonator holder.

\Vhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 it will be seen that the ends F of the punches F bear against those portions of the disk H which cut and block the passages G B The pellet D is thus held securely at the inner end of the fuse body with the needle E remote from the detonator G. Any slight movement of the pellet that might be possible and result in chatterin is convenlently prevented by a spring L disposed in a recess in the bottom cap A and bearing against the lower extremity of the pellet. It is apparentthat when the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. l the passages from the detonator G to the owder pellets J through which passages tie flash must pass to ignite these pellets and the projectile charge. are effectively closed by the disk H. Movement of the ellet D cannot take place except under the influence of considerable force by reason of the pellet being rigidly held by the punches F so that the need.e is remote from the detonator. In case the detonator should be exploded in some accidental manner there are provided passages A through the wall of the fuse body A so as to enable the flash to pass from the space in the fuse body between the detonator carrier and the pellet into the annular space C around the fuse body where the effect of the flash would he harmless.

W'hen the projectile carrying this fuse is discharged and comes into contact with a suitable hard objective the momentum of the pellet D causes the punches F to perforate the disk ll and as soon as this perforation takes place the pellet can move forward and on doing so causes the needle E to strike the dctonator (l. The resulting flash passes throu 'h the passage G" to the recess G. thence tnrough the inclined passa s (1? to the passages G B around the Pet uced portion F of the punches F. Thence the flash passes throu h the radial passages B to the owder pe lets J which being ignited explor e thecharge within the projectile. Delay action of the fuse may be obtained by using a slow form the pellets J.

If desired one or more centrifugal bolts of known type may be employed to retain the pellet l) in its inoperative position in addition to the retaimng action of the punches.

The pellet D is provided with air rooves D so that its forward motion in he fuse body is not impeded and the ends of a piece of rod D driven through a transverse hole in the pellet act as feathers in conjunction with grooves formed in the interior of the fuse body A to guide the pellet in its for ward movement. This device by preventing rotation of the pellet in the fuse body obviates any wrenching of the punches when the projectile is fired from the gun. the strain which would otherwise be thrown on the punches when the projectile suddenly commences to rotate is thus taken by the feathers.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modified construction of the cap B in which instead of the short radial passages B leading from the holes Gr outward to the exterior of the ca p longer tangential passages B are formed in the cap. The ignition pellet J may in some cases be inserted in one of these passages B instead of in the outer recess.

Although the needle E is shown as being mounted centrally on the pellet D it may be otherwise disposed thereon. The number and osition of the punches also may be varie the guide passages being arranged to correspon It is desirable however to have the disk H supported in the manner described at or about its center with the punches disposed at some distance from the center so that the disk is supported by solid metal where it receives the principal strain should the detonator through any accidental cause he exploded without perforation of the disk having taken place. This construction is stronger than any arrangement of central punch which necessitates the disk be ing unsupported at its center.

Although in the construction illustrated the punches are ri idly mounted u on the needle carrying pel etit is to be out erstood that they need not be actually connected to the pellet but. may be separate from it and held in position 1n any convenient manner so long as the arraugen'lent is such that the pellet. can only move fm'ward with the punches.

The punches themselves may be fornuul in a variety of ways bcin' in some cases hollow or slotted so as to al ow the flash to pass when the disk has been perforated. If dcsircd the disk may be cupped or may he provided with a leather or indiarublx-r washer such as is indicated at. M in Fig. l for the purpose of insuring a gas tight joint.

It is to be noted that in the fuse accordburning powder to ing to this invention the area of the safety disk exposed to the pressure of the gases from the detonator is smalland also that such area is largely shielded before perforation by the presence of the punches which lie against the disk. Further as previously mentioned the safety disk is well supported by the metal of the, carrier and the cap and thus the possibility of the safety disk being perforated bv the accidental discharge of the dctonator ahd not by the in'ipact of the punches is very remote.

The constructional details may be varied to meet requirements and while the fuse is n'iainly described and illustrated as being intended for fixing in the base plug of a projectile it may if desired be suitably modified and disposed in the nose of the projectile or at the inner end of the chamber containing the explosive charge.

W'hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis l 1. In a percussion fuse for a projectile the combination of a hollow fuse body, a deto nator in said body, a conduit leading from said detonator to an explosive charge, a safety disk closing said conduit, a needlecarrying pellet ada ted to more in the hollow fuse body an explode the detonator when the flight of the projectile is arrested by impact wlth an object and a punch mounted on such needle pellet and adapted to hold itnormally away from the dctonator and to be carried forward by the pellet to pierce the safety disk as setforth.

2. In a percussion fuse for a projectile the combination of a hollow fuse body, a detonator in said body, a conduit leading from said detonator to an explosive charge. a safety disk closing said conduit, a needlecarrying pellet adapted to move in the hollow fuse body and explode the detonator when the flight of the projectile is arrested by impact with an object and a punch rigidly mounted on such needle pellet and adapted to hold it normallv away from the detonator and to be carried forward by the pellet to pierce the safety disk as set forth.

In a percussion fuse for a projectile the combination of a hollow fuse body, a cap closing said body and having conduits lead ing to an explosive charge. a detonator-car rier mounted in said ca and having passages registering with t. e conduits in the cap, a safety disk normally preventing communication between the conduits in thc cap and the passages in the carrier. :1 detonator mounted in the carrier, a needle-carrying pellet adapted to move in the hollow fuse )ody and explode the. detonator when the flight of the projectile is arrested by im* pact with an object and )unchcs mounted on the needle pellet guided by the conduit-s in the carrier and adapted to pierce the safety disk as set forth.

4. In a percussion fuse for a projectile the combination of a hollow fuse body, a cap closing said body and provided with conduits, a detonntor carrier having passages registering with the conduits in the cap, a safety disk held between the cap and the detonator carrier and supported by the cap at. its central and circiunferentiul portions the only parts unsupported being those which norl'nally close the passages as set forth.

5. In a percussion fuse for a projectile the combination of a hollow fuse body, a cap closing said body and having conduits leading to an ex )losive charge, a detonator carrier mountcc in said cap and having passages registerin with the conduits 1n the cap, a safety dis normally preventin communication between the conduits in t 1e cap and the passa es in the carrier, a detonator mounted in he carrier, a needle-carrying pellet adapted to move in the hollow fuse ody and explode the detonator when the flight of the projectile is arrested by impact with an object and punches rigidly mounted on the needle pellet guided by the conduits in the carrier and adapted to pierce the safety disk, said punches being reduced in diameter to allow free communlcation to be established between the passages in the detonator and the conduits in the cap when the disk is pierced as set forth.

6. In a percussion fuse for a projectile the combination of a hollow fuse body, a on closing said body and provided with conduits, ignition pellets in said conduits, a carrier mounted in said cap and having passages registering with the conduits in the cap, a safety disk normally preventing communication between the conduits in the 105 cap and the passages in the carrier, a detonator mounted in the carrier, 2. needle carrying pellet adated to move in the hollow fuse body an explode the detonator when the flight of the projectile is arrest-ed 110 by impact with an object and punches rigidly mounted on the needle pelletguided by the conduits in the carrier and adapted to pierce the safety disk, said punches being reduced in diameter to allow free com- 115 munication to be established between the passages in the dctonator and the conduits in the cap when the disk is pierced, said punches also serving to hold the needle pellet normally away from the detonator as 12 set forth.

'7. In apercnssion fuse for a projectile the combination of a hollow fuse body, a cap closing one end of said body and provided with conduits, ignition pellets in said con- 125 duits, a. carrier mounted in said cap and having pz'issages registering with the conduits in the cap, asafety disk normally reventing communication between the con nits in the cap and the passages in the carrier, 130

u. detonator mounted in the carrier, at second cap closing the other end of the fuse body, a needle-carrying pellet guided and adapted to move in the hollow fuse body and explode the detonator when the flight of the projectile-is arrested by impact with an ob- ]ect, punches rigidly mounted on the needle pellet ided by the conduits in the carrier and a apted to ierce the safety disk said unches being re need in diameter to allow ee communication to be established between the passages in the detonator and the conduits in the cap when the disk is pierced, and a spring between the base of the pellet and the cap, Sflld spring tending to keep the 15 ends of the punches in contact with the disk as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY BLAND STRANGE.

Witnesses:

R101: K. Evms, CHAS. N. DANIELS. 

